Chapter 112
A cough interrupted the tender moment between Gilmore and Lilian. Gilmore noticed Mona at the doorway. Lilian, recovering from her embarrassment, asked, "What is it?"
"The director says Mr. Field from the Horizon Group wants to invite you to lunch. Get ready; we're leaving immediately," Mona urged.
Lilian replied, "Tell the director my boyfriend is here. I won't be attending. Please apologize to Mr. Field on my behalf."
Mona was surprised. "How can you not go? The Horizon Group is one of Vista Verde's top ten financial groups and the biggest sponsor of 'Run, Friends, Run,' NexusTV's hottest variety show. Mr. Field invited you. If you don't go, he might withdraw his sponsorship. NexusTV will be furious and might even blacklist you."
Lilian smiled faintly. "You're making a mountain out of a molehill. Clinton also invited the director and other members. I'm just a rookie; I'm not that important."
"Are you playing dumb? He's visited you several times. Everyone knows he's sponsoring the show because of you." Mona, ignoring Gilmore's presence, added, "He likes you. The director is renewing the sponsorship contract with him at lunch. If you don't go, he'll pull his sponsorship, and there will be serious consequences."
"How serious?" Gilmore's mocking voice cut in.
He looked at Mona with a faint smile. Seeing him, Mona's anger flared. She believed Lilian would have gone to lunch if not for him. In Mona's opinion, Gilmore was a nobody. Despite not being dressed shabbily, he arrived on a shared bicycle instead of in a luxury car. To Mona, this equated to being a country bumpkin. Having worked in the entertainment industry, she was used to wealth and power, and looked down on Gilmore.
"Mr. Reed, right? Lilian's a popular star; you're just an idler. Being with you will ruin her career." Her tone and eyes were contemptuous. She considered him an unemployed loser.
Chapter 112 (Continued)
He must have sweet-talked the naive Lilian into dating him. He smiled faintly and asked, "She's my girlfriend. What's wrong with her being with me?"
Mona was speechless. Her expression gloomy, she said sarcastically, "Don't you understand? You're a loser, and Lilian's a star. You don't deserve her. Don't think I don't know what you're up to—you're trying to con her out of money. I've seen many like you."
"Shut up!" Lilian's cold shout silenced Mona.
Mona stared at Lilian in disbelief. Lilian, pale and trembling with rage, was furious at Mona's rudeness and insults. She was deeply in love with Gilmore, and Mona, an outsider, couldn't understand their love. More importantly, he wasn't a scumbag and never coveted her money.
Sensing Lilian's anger—a first for Mona—she realized she'd disregarded Lilian's feelings when insulting Gilmore. She stammered, "Lilian, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have insulted him, but I did it for your own good…"
Lilian coldly interrupted, "From now on, you're no longer my assistant. I'll tell my agent to hire a new one."
Ignoring the shocked Mona, she said to Gilmore, "Let's go."
He nodded. Passing Mona, he smiled, "Miss Wade, remember to brush your teeth before speaking next time. Your breath polluted the fresh air."
Mona's face flushed with anger and humiliation. Gilmore ignored her, took Lilian's hand, and left the lounge. As they left, Mona cried out, "Ah!"
Outside the station, a man's voice called, "Lilian, wait!"
She stopped and turned. Several men in suits emerged from the building. One, a middle-aged man in a tasteful suit and gold-rimmed glasses, looked gentle.
"Mr. Hamilton…" she greeted him.
It was Michael Hamilton, NexusTV's top director and director of 'Run, Friends, Run'. He said gently, "Mona called me. Although she was wrong, you don't have to fire her."
She said icily, "She insulted my boyfriend. I won't allow her to be my assistant."
"Okay, I'll find you a new assistant. But will you attend the lunch party?" he asked.
Holding Gilmore's arm, she said to Michael, "I have a boyfriend; I don't want anything to do with Clinton Field."
Michael said, "I understand. It's just lunch; I want to renew the sponsorship contract."
"I'll go, but I'm bringing my boyfriend," she stated firmly.
Michael, after some thought, agreed. "As long as you convince Clinton to sign the contract, you can bring your boyfriend."
(Note: The final sentence "+95%" and the "SEND GIFT" are unrelated and have been omitted.)